Worshipful Brother JOhn B. Lawder
Worshipful Brother John B. Lawder, Insurance Agent, Former Mayor of Hamilton, Ohio and the 47th Worshipful Master of Washington Lodge #17. Born in Virginia on September 14th 1814, He received his education in the country schools of his native county. He was a resident of Cincinnati for many years, He became a resident of Hamilton in 1864, and was engaged in the insurance business. In 1873 he was elected Mayor. His first official act was to issue a proclamation closing the saloons on Sunday. He received his first degrees in masonry in Nova Caesarea Harmony Lodge #2 served as Worshipful Master there in 1863. After moving to Hamilton he demitted to Washington Lodge and served as Worshipful Master in 1879. At the end of his official term as mayor he moved to New Paris, Preble county, Ohio, where he died four years later from the effects of a cancer in 1883. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton, Ohio